Understanding the impact of digital access for Australian school aged
students
Introduction
For over 43 years WorkVentures have been committed to aiding young people gain meaningful skills, training
and jobs and providing affordable technology and connectivity to those who are digitally excluded.
Whilst young people are considered highly digitally included by the Australian Digital Integration Index (ADII), the
National Assessment of Information and Communications Skills (NAP-ICT) have found that slightly more than
50% of year 6 to year 10 students achieved a proficient standard in ICT1,2. Addressing digital inclusion and
ability is paramount to the impact WorkVentures provide in their provision of refurbished laptops program for
school age students.
It is, however widely known, that robust data pertaining to the impact of addressing the digital divide for school
aged students is nationally limited. It was with this in mind that in 2022 WorkVentures commenced a 12 month
project aimed at gathering insights from measuring the impacts technology donations can have on digital
inclusion for school aged students.
Digital Inclusion
Digital inclusion remains a global issue with over a third of the world population digitally excluded3.
The key barriers influencing digital inclusion on a global scale include affordability, accessibility and
digital ability.
While Australia is considered a digitally included country by global standards, it is estimated that 9.4% of
Australians are highly excluded 4. This indicates that approximately 2.3 million Australians do not have
access to reliable internet or devices, and maintain limited digital ability. As a result, addressing issues of
affordability and digital ability are central to reducing the digital divide.
1.
ACEReSearch, 2018, NAP sample assessment ICT literacy: years 6 and 10, 2017napictlreport_final.pdf
2.
Australian Digital Inclusion Index, 2023, Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide, https://www.digitalinclusionindex.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ADII-2023-Summary_FINAL-Remediated.pdf
3.
United Nations, 2021, ITU: 2.9 billion people still offline, https://www.un.org/en/delegate/itu-29-billion-people-still-offline
4.
Australian Digital Inclusion Index, 2023, Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide, https://www.digitalinclusionindex.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ADII-2023-Summary_FINAL-Remediated.pdf